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Craving fresh strawberries?
Good news: you can grow them indoors all year!
Learn the secrets to cultivating delicious strawberries right in your home.
Ready to enjoy homegrown berries?
Let’s get started!
Should You Grow Strawberries Indoors?
Absolutely, it’s a smart move to grow strawberries indoors. You can easily manage and control the growing conditions, which is especially handy if your outdoor climate isn’t ideal for strawberries. Providing full sun is crucial, so if natural light is lacking, artificial lights are a good substitute.
Here are a few tips for success:
- Ensure they get enough water.
- Maintain a stable indoor temperature.
- Use the right type of soil.
With the right care, your indoor strawberries can thrive and even produce juicy, delicious fruits.
Guide to Planting Strawberries Indoors
The Best Time for Planting
You can start growing strawberries indoors whenever you want. While many gardeners opt for early spring since it’s simpler to find seedlings or mature plants, there’s no fixed rule about timing.
Choosing the Right Pots
When picking out pots, appearance shouldn’t be your priority. Focus on the size and material. Glazed pottery, plastic, and unglazed terracotta planters are excellent choices. Avoid deep pots because strawberries have shallow roots, so shallow containers are ideal.
Proper Spacing
Proper spacing is crucial whether growing in pots or the ground. Overcrowding can cause several problems for strawberry plants. For example, if you use a pot with a 12-inch diameter, limit it to a maximum of three strawberry plants to ensure they grow well.
Caring for Indoor Strawberries
Light
Indoor strawberries need plenty of light, especially during their early growth stages. Aim to provide at least six hours of direct sunlight. If your indoor space doesn’t get enough natural light, consider using artificial lights to supplement.
Watering Schedule
To keep your strawberries healthy, maintain consistent soil moisture. While newly planted strawberries require daily watering, you can reduce this to every other day once they become established. Using filtered water is recommended as it is free of potentially harmful chemicals found in tap water.
Soil
Strawberries prefer porous, well-draining soil. A potting mix with coconut coir or peat moss works well. Improving drainage and aeration by adding materials like perlite can further enhance soil conditions for your strawberries.
Temperature and Humidity
For optimal growth, keep daytime temperatures between 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Nighttime temperatures should be slightly cooler to produce the best fruit. Maintaining humidity levels between 60-75% can help prevent issues like powdery mildew.
Fertilizing Schedule
Once your strawberries are established, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly. Additional fertilizing is necessary at the end of the fruiting stage to support the development of new buds within the crown.
Pollination
Since indoor strawberries cannot rely on bees for pollination, you will need to hand-pollinate the flowers. Use a cotton swab or small paintbrush to transfer pollen from the anthers to the stigma within each flower. Gently shaking or tapping the flowers can also help move pollen to the receptive stigma.
Choosing Strawberry Varieties
If you want fresh, tasty strawberries throughout the year, choose everbearing (day-neutral) types.
Recommendations:
- Cabrillo: Known for large, sweet, slightly sour fruits with a high yield.
- Seascape: Produces fruits and flowers year-round with a high yield of large, flavorful berries.
- Ozark Beauty: Larger than others, sometimes reaching up to 12 inches, which means more fruit!
- Albion: A compact variety with deep green leaves that produces medium-sized, flavorful fruits.
Harvesting Tips
Make sure to wait until your strawberries are completely red before picking them for the best taste. When you do pick them, be sure to include ¼ of the stem to keep the fruit in good condition. With day-neutral strawberry varieties, you’ll get plenty of berries every few weeks, giving you a regular supply to enjoy.
Pruning Tips
To keep your strawberry plants healthy, remove all damaged or dead leaves. Be gentle and avoid harming the crown or the plant’s center. Keeping these areas intact ensures your strawberry plant stays evergreen and productive.
Propagating Indoor Strawberries
Growing Strawberries Indoors From Seeds
Start by mimicking winter by placing your strawberry seeds in the freezer for about 30 days. Ensure they thaw before planting.
Use a small container or a seed-starting tray filled with a proper growing medium. Lightly moisten the substrate.
Spread the seeds on the medium and cover them with a thin layer of soil, about ⅛ inch deep.
Position your seed tray where it receives a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day.
Irrigate the seeds every 2-3 days, or whenever the soil dries out. A warm, moist environment boosts germination.
Patience is key—your seeds may take 5 to 6 months to sprout.
Repotting And Overwintering Tips
Replace your plants every 2-3 years with new seeds or transplants for consistent fruit production. When strawberries go dormant post-harvest, provide adequate light and moisture to support them. Ensure you water dormant strawberries about once a month. Maintain these conditions to keep your plants healthy and ready for the next growing season.
Common Issues
While indoor cultivation often keeps pests at bay, it doesn’t guarantee freedom from all problems. Diseases like root rot and powdery mildew are more likely to strike your indoor strawberries.
Root rot: This typically occurs if you overwater your plants. Ensure your watering schedule is just right.
Powdery mildew: Incorrect humidity levels can lead to this issue. Adjust your humidity levels to suit the needs of your strawberries.
Providing your strawberries with the ideal conditions will help you avoid these common diseases. Enjoy growing and savoring your strawberries indoors, no matter the season outside!